The annual J. Roderick Davis Lecture is Howard College of Arts and Science's main event. Each year's topic concerns important issues, current events and historic milestones reflecting Samford's commitment to a broad liberal arts education. This lecture series honors J. Roderick Davis, a 1958 Howard College alumnus and later the dean of Samford's Howard College of Arts and Sciences. When he retired from his office in 2001, his colleagues established this lecture series in his name to bring recognized scholars and public intellectuals to Samford University's campus.